Obstetrical apparatus



(No Modei.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. S. HALL.

OBSTETRIGAL APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

WWNE E1555- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. S. HALL. OBSTETRIGAL APPARATUS.

P10439399. Patented 0012.28.1890.

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W-ITNEEEEEI- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shee'n 3.

W. S. HALL. OBSTETRICAL APPARATUS.

No. 439,399. Patented 00t.28, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

XVALTER S. HALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO JAMES H. OSGOOD,

OE SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,899, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed January 20, 1890.

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER S. HALL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and a citizen of the United States of America, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Obstetrical Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

In unfavorable position of the fetal head during parturition, powerful traction upon the obstetric forceps is often required, and it not unfrequently occurs that, by the sudden release of the head or through slipping of the forceps, they are suddenly drawn through the insufficiently-dilated vulvae, with the result of severe laceration of the perinteum, whereby severe injury is inflicted, necessitating painful and tedious operations and long-continued suffering.

Accoucheurs have long felt the need of a portable appliance for rendering extraction of the child by means of the ordinary forceps 2 5 safe, sure, and speedy; but no device for applying other than manual force has heretofore been suggested. To provide such means whereby force may be applied in such manner as to enable the operator to control and direct the advance of the head of the infant at all points of the parturient canal, and to prevent possibility of injury to the mother, has been sought and accomplished in this invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in plan to illustrate the invention and its application. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a slight dilferencein the form of the connection between the forceps and its retractor. Fig. 4

shows a slight modification.

The forceps A are of any desired form and construction. The attachment I have termed an axis-tractor, and it is presented in the 5 drawings as composed of the diverging arms b, united at their outer ends by a short bridge 19', and having cups 11 upon their inner ends.

To the bridge there is attached or secured the device or mechanism for applying trac- Serial No. 337,446. (No model.)

tion to the forceps, and in Fig. 1 I have rep- 5o resented this device as a long screw-threaded rod 0, having at its outer end a handle 0, by which it is turned, and at its inner end a swiveling ring or coupling a, which receives and holds the chain c or other flexible connection uniting the rod to the forceps. \Vhen this construction is used, the bridge has a threaded hole 0 through which the rod 0 screws, and which acts as a stationary nut for the screw-rod. For convenience, the rod and nut are shown asleft-threaded. The connection or chain c is represented as made in three sections d d (Z of substantially the same length, and united to each other by a ring (1 The end of each section has a hook 61*, and these hooks afford means for the attachment of the chain to the ring or coupling of the screw-rod and to the forceps. By mak ing the chain in three sections it is not only useful in connecting the rod with the axis or handle of the forceps, but it can be employed in uniting the rod directly to the blade of the forceps, as represented in Fig. 3. In lieu of the rod and chain, the bridge may form the support for one end of a tackle reeved through one or more pulleys or blocks connected with the forceps, and having a free end adapted to be drawn by the assistant in applying power to the forceps.

The operation of the device is as follows: Having adjusted the forceps to secure a firm grasp of the head of the child, the cups of the axis tractor are pressed firmly against the tuberosities of the ischium on either side of the woman, and by means of the chain and hooks (in the case of the screw-rod connection) the swivel ring or eye at the end of the screw is connected with the forceps, as represented. An assistant then, under direction of the accoucheur, turns the same by its hano dlc, thus applying anyneeded degree of traction upon the forceps, which, grasped at the handle by the operator, are made to exert the force in any needed direction, counterpressure being had against the ischium by elevating or depressing the handle of the screw by the assistant, and by skillful manipulation of the forceps by the operator the force may be exerted at any angle and the head of the child maybe guided in proper direction for safe delivery, While danger of too rapid advance after the head has been forced to pass the obstruction, with resulting injury to the mother, is entirely averted.

I would state that the axis-tractor can be applied to any implement used in obstetrics.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination of an obstetric forceps or instrument with an axis-tractor comprising a bridge, a force or power increasing or multiplying traction rod or device carried by the bridge, having forceps-engaging devices at its inner end, and one or more legs or arms extending from the bridge to hold and brace the same, substantially as described.

2. An axis-tractor for applying force to obstetric forceps or other instrument, comprising a bridge, a force or power increasing or multiplying traction rod or device attached to the bridge and having at its inner end means for engagement with the forceps, and one or more legs or arms extending from the bridge to hold and brace the same, substantially as described.

3. The axis-tractor having the bridge I), the diverging arms Z), having cups 19 the screwrod 0, passing through the threaded hole 0 in the bridge and having at its outer end the handle 0' and at its inner end the swivel eye or coupling 0 substantially as described.

4. The combination of the actuating section or part of an axis-tractor with a connection in three flexible sections, each of which ends in a hook, substantially as described.

5. The axis-tractor connection consisting of three flexible sections united to each other by a ring, each section ending in a hook, substantially as described.

WALTER S. HALL.

In presence of F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. H. DOLAN. 

